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Updated: May 30, 2026
Ischemic Tissue Injury in the Dorsal Skinfold Chamber of the Mouse: A Skin Flap Model to Investigate Acute Persistent Ischemia
Published on: November 17, 2014
Effects of sildenafil on the viability of random skin flaps
Sumara Marques Barral1, Ivana Duval Araujo, Paula Vieira Teixeira Vidigal
1Department of Surgery, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. sumara@terra.com.br
Purpose:
To assess the viability of McFarlane skin flaps in rats with administration of sildenafil.
Methods:
Twenty Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: Control (dorsal skin flap, subdermal application of saline solution at 0.9%) and Study (dorsal skin flap, subdermal application of sildenafil). Seven days after the surgery, flaps were photographed and graphically rendered. Then, they were analyzed with AutoCAD software. Three biopsies (proximal, medial and distal) of each flap were collected for histological analysis.
Results:
Macroscopic analysis showed that animals of the study group had greater necrotic areas (p=0.003) in the dorsal skin flaps. Additionally, histological analysis of the distal third of these flaps showed a tendency to less granulated tissue formation in animals treated with sildenafil.
Conclusion:
Sildenafil subdermally was associated with lower viability of the random skin flap in rats.
Insights
Sildenafil administration reduced skin flap viability in rats, increasing necrotic areas and potentially hindering tissue repair. This study highlights potential risks of sildenafil in reconstructive surgery.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing
- Pharmacology
Background:
- McFarlane skin flaps are crucial in reconstructive surgery.
- Assessing agents that impact flap viability is essential.
- Sildenafil's effect on tissue viability requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of sildenafil on McFarlane skin flap viability in a rat model.
- To determine if sildenafil affects tissue survival and healing.
Main Methods:
- Twenty Wistar rats were divided into control (saline) and study (sildenafil) groups.
- Dorsal skin flaps were created, and treatments were applied subdermally.
- Flap viability was assessed macroscopically and histologically after seven days.
Main Results:
- Sildenafil group exhibited significantly larger necrotic areas in skin flaps (p=0.003).
- Histological analysis indicated a trend towards reduced granulation tissue in the distal flap sections of the sildenafil group.
Conclusions:
- Subdermal sildenafil administration compromised random skin flap viability in rats.
- Sildenafil may negatively influence wound healing and tissue survival in this context.
